There’s a couple of different ways you can approach the wine tasting thing. If you want to beat the crowds you can go to Sonoma or Russian River and hit obscure winery after winery to your heart’s... More

There’s a couple of different ways you can approach the wine tasting thing. If you want to beat the crowds you can go to Sonoma or Russian River and hit obscure winery after winery to your heart’s content, get your hands dirty as they say. Or, you can go the easy tourist route where the wine’s not half as good, but all the wineries are villas on sprawling landscapes, grapes as far as the eyes can see, right along a straight road (helpful when you're buzzed) in St. Helena in Napa. I’ve brought my out of town visitors along this route countless times, and at the end of the track is my favorite place, the wonderful V. Sattui Winery. Due to city regulations, V. Sattui is the only place in town that has picnic tables and serves all sort of wine fare – fruits, cheeses, deli, cakes. They have an extensive free tasting here. I’m not a fan of the wines so much.. except for the exceptional Madeira, nicknamed “the babymaker”. Have a glass and you’ll understand. It’s the only wine I’ve ever bought up there.
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V. Sattui Winery is one of the regions best wineries and has the most wonderfu picnic lunch spot in the area. The deli at the winery serves over 200 cheeses in their ad and this must be true. We... More

V. Sattui Winery is one of the regions best wineries and has the most wonderfu picnic lunch spot in the area. The deli at the winery serves over 200 cheeses in their ad and this must be true. We couldn't decide on one or two and ended up with five cheeses to taste. The staff is exceptional.
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We went here on a vacation to the area in March of 2004 on a recommendation from a friend and it was well worth it! They offer free samples of their wines when several other wineries charge for... More

We went here on a vacation to the area in March of 2004 on a recommendation from a friend and it was well worth it! They offer free samples of their wines when several other wineries charge for samples. Their wines are great! They have a wide variety of whites and reds. They also have a cute little deli with some wonderful cheeses and salads. Great place for a picnic! They also had some wine accessories. You can order from them directly and have it shipped to. We will be doing this when we run out!!!
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V. Sattui is well-known for their free tastings, something of a rarity in the Napa Valley. This family owned winery does not distribute their wine so you can only but the wine here- which also... More

V. Sattui is well-known for their free tastings, something of a rarity in the Napa Valley. This family owned winery does not distribute their wine so you can only but the wine here- which also makes for unique gifts for your friends back home. Another bonus is that there is a great, though slightly pricey, deli here- perfect for picnicing and there are decent picnic areas outside the winery, though it gets a bit crowded on weekends, and in the high season. Go mid-week or in the off-season and you'll have the place to yourself!
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